The Road to Tender Hearts

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did you react to the novel’s mix of tragedy, humor, and tenderness?

2. Discuss the road trip trope. Have you ever read a novel about a road trip before? How did this one compare to those?

3. What was your reaction to the novel’s inclusion of nonhuman characters, such as Pancakes and the vultures? Did you find their voices distinct? Believable?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Have you ever taken a journey that forced you to confront something painful from your past? How did that experience change the way you see yourself and others?

2. Can you relate to Sophie’s conflict between self-preservation and compassion?

3. Does the novel’s idea that healing doesn’t always look like progress, and instead circling back to old pain, resonate with you?

4. What small acts of love and kindness have helped you find hope in a difficult time?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Discuss the novel’s depiction of addiction and recovery. What does PJ’s experience reveal about the barriers to healing?

2. How do PJ and Ivy’s differing reactions to Kate’s death reflect cultural expectations about how men and women deal with grief?

3. Through their interactions with people along the journey, what does the novel reveal about the breakdown of community and human connection in contemporary society?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Analyze Hartnett’s use of the pacing of the road trip to symbolize the process of healing and relapse.

2. Discuss the presence of Pancakes as a recurring symbol of fate.

3. Explore Hartnett’s use of memory to expose the interiority of PJ and Sophie.

4. How are PJ and Luna character foils of each other?

5. What does the stone bench symbolize for PJ?

6. Discuss the novel’s dark comedic tone when addressing sensitive topics such as abuse and addiction.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to take a road trip, where would you go and why? Discuss important stops you’d make along the way.

2. Create a playlist for PJ and the kids’ road trip. Explain your song choices and what they represent.